In an era of academies and youth pathways, the fast bowler Trent Copeland is a throwback. His rise to the national squad came through the more traditional route of dominating at grade level and then starring in state cricket. His New South Wales debut came at the age of 23 and was all the more remarkable because four years prior he was a wicketkeeper-batsman. But the switch to bowling suited the tall Copeland, whose efforts with the St George club led to a stunning entry into state cricket in 2009-10. He finished his maiden first-class season with 35 victims at 17.57 in only five matches, and the 8 for 92 he claimed in his first innings of Sheffield Shield cricket was the second-best haul by a player on first-class debut for New South Wales.

The next summer he reached the 50-wicket milestone in his eighth game, the fourth-fastest to the mark in New South Wales history. Seam and swing, combined with the extra bounce from his 1.95 frame, make him a difficult man to face, and he was the joint highest wicket taker in the Shield in 2010-11 with 45 victims. Despite not having earned a Cricket Australia contract in 2011, he was named in the Test squad to tour Sri Lanka. A five-wicket haul in the tour match showed that his skills could translate to different conditions, and catapulted him into the Test XI for the first Test in Galle. He performed an important holding role in Australia's series win, going for only 2.1 an over, but faded from the selectors' thoughts thereafter. However, he remained a very consistent first-class performer, and was recruited by Northants as an overseas player for the 2013 season.